Ceiling construction



JQ MERLINO CEILING CONSTRUCTION Oct. 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 10, 1956 IN V EN TOR. 1/0657 MERL //V0 ATTORNEYS J. MERLINO CEILING CONSTRUCTION.

Oct. 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1956 INVENTOR. JOJEPH MERL/A/O ATTORNEYS United States Patent CEILING CONSTRUCTION Joseph Merlino, West Hartford, Conn.

Application January 10, 1956, Serial No. 558,370

9 Claims. (Cl. 20-4) This invention relates to a ceiling construction and, more particularly, to improved mechanical means for supporting ceiling tiles. While the improved support means will be described as particularly adapted for ceiling construction wherein its advantages are most apparent, it will be understood by those skilled in the art from the description that the improved support means may be used to advantage in other wall construction.

The class of tile which can be supported to greatest advantage by my improved construction is the relatively thick, generally fibrous composition tile customarily used in ceiling constructions and this general class includes the well known sound-proofing tile. My invention does not embrace any modification in the composition of conventional tiles, but the invention does embrace a geometric modification in such conventional tiles which modification is not apparent to an observer of a finished ceiling or wall construction.

Ceiling tiles of the general type mentioned are supported in place by various means. Some tiles are applied and supported adhesively by the use of a suitable mastic. The adhesively supported tiles are generally placed together in edge-abutting relationship without overlapping edges. Some ceiling tiles are nailed or stapled in place on ceiling crossbeams or stringers or they are nailed or stapled to wood strips secured across the ceiling. The nailed or stapled tiles generally engage each other in edge-overlapping relationship. Additional ceiling constructions employ mechanical tile supporting means which engage the tiles at the edges thereof to support the same. In mechanically supported constructions, the ceiling tiles generally engage eachother in edge-abutting relationship but do not overlap. Ceiling constructions employing mechanically supported tiles are oftentimes preferred and may even be required to satisfy building codes because of the greater safety and assurance afforded against the possibility of falling tile.

One serious disadvantage encountered in the use of conventional mechanical support means for ceiling tile is the inability conveniently to remove one or more of the tiles without causing damage thereto. This disadvantage is inherent in the construction and form of the support means.

It is the general object of this invention to provide mechanical support means for ceiling tile or the like which retains the advantages of conventional support means but which is particularly adapted to make it possible easily and quickly to remove one or more tiles from a ceiling construction without causing damage either to the tile or to the support means.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide ceiling tile support means which is particularly adapted to make it easier to position the last tile or row of tiles in the contruction of a tiled ceiling and which will permit removal and easy replacement of one or more tiles in a finished ceiling construction.

Other objects as well as advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the 2,854,706 Patented Oct. 7, 1958 following description having reference to the attached drawings wherein, by way of preferred example only, one specific embodiment of the invention is shown. It should be understood, and it will become apparent from the claims forming a part of this specification, that the invention is not limited in form to the single embodiment shown.

In the drawings, 7

Fig. l is a perspective viewshowing a celing construction in a room wherein the ceiling tiles are supported in part by conventional structure and in part by means provided in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view looking downwardly upon a ceiling tile and fragmentary portions of adjacent tiles as they are supported on a ceiling and wherein conventional support means are employed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and illustrating details of the support structure;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal fragmentary sectional view through the tile shown in Fig. 2, the section being taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view generally similar to Fig. 3 but showing a section through my improved support structure;

Fig. 6 is a view taken as indicated by the line 66 of Fig. 5 showing additional details of my support structure;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing fragmentary portions of the two members which form a crosspiece in my support structure;

Fig. 8 is a similar perspective view showing the members engaged; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the members locked together.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that ceiling tiles which are mechanically supported are usually arranged in rows extending across a ceiling in both directions. In Fig. l, a plurality of such rows indicated generally by the reference R R are shown. The titles employed in the various rows appear to an observer within the room to be square. However, in many cases the conventional tiles (indicated at T, T) are in reality rectangular, each tile usually having beveled edges such as indicated at B in Fig. 3 which abut similar edges in the adjacent tiles. Each tile has false or what appear to be beveled edges cut into the tile on the bottom side thereof and extending between the longitudinal edges so as to bisect said longitudinal edges. The false beveled edges are shown by the broken lines B, B in Fig. 2 and make each rectangular tile T appear to be two square tiles when observed from below.

It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that when placing the tiles T, T in the respective rows, the tiles can slide along the support structure into edgeabutting relationship. Generally, the tiles are arranged in rows such as the rows R R with their longitudinal edges abutting. This sliding engagement of the tiles during the construction of a ceiling presents a problem in properly positioning the last tile within a row, there being no sliding space available. However, the sliding engagement does make it possible in conventional constructions to remove all except one tile within a row without causing damage thereto. That is, after one tile has been removed, thereby causing damage to the said tile in conventional constructions, the remaining tiles in the row can be removed without damage.

In accordance with the present invention, all of the tiles in a row can easily be placed and removed and replaced when desired Without damage to any tile, provided one novel tile 10 is included in each row and is supported by support means incorporating features of this invention. Accordingly, in Fig. 1 there are five novel tiles 3 10, 10 shown, there being one such tile provided for each of the rows R R The conventional tiles T, T are supported in the aforesaid rows on conventional support structure as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The conventional support structure for a row of tiles comprises two parallel channel members in the form of I beams or H beams 12, 12 which extend across the ceiling in the direction which the row of tiles is to take. The l beams or H beams 12, 12 comprise lightweight metal extrusions having a central web 14 and laterally extending flanges 16, 16. The channel members 12, 12 can be conveniently secured in a ceiling construction by extending the said members across the ceiling beams or studding, such as indicated at S in Figs. 3 and 4, and by nailing or otherwise attaching the channel members to the various beams as indicated at 18. When secured in the aforesaid manner, the web portion 14 of each extruded channel member 12 will, be disposed in a substantially vertical plane and the flanges 16, 16 of each channel member will be disposed in substantially horizontal planes. Two such channel members 12, 12 extend across the room in the aforesaid parallel relationship to define a row and the tiles T, T within the row are supported as will be described with their end edges adjacent the said channel members.

The longitudinal edges of the tiles T, T are supported on extruded metal elongated crosspieces or beams 20, 20 which extend between the channel members 12, 12 and which are generally of inverted T-shape in cross section. More specifically, each of the T beams is cut in a length substantially equal to the length of a tile T and is supported at its opposite ends by the channel members 12, 12, the head flanges 22, 22 of each T beam 20 resting upon the lower flanges 16, 16 of the respective channel members 12, 12.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the conventional tiles T, T each have a lateral groove 24 extending along the longitudinal sides and one end adjacent and above the respective beveled edges B, B. The groove is provided along the longitudinal edges to receive the head flanges 22, 22 of two T beams 20, 20 and the groove along said one end receives the bottom horizontal flange 16 of one channel member 12. It will be observed that each tile T is supported only at its longitudinal edges by engagement with head flanges 22, 22 on the crosspiece T beams 26, 20. The tiles are not supported on the flanges 16, 16 of the channel members 12, 12, the groove 24 at the grooved end of each tile T receiving a flange 16 but not resting thereupon. The ungrooved end of each tile T is cut back as indicated at 26 (Fig. 4) so that a tile can be thrust between the fixed channel members 12, 12 with the grooved end receiving the flange 16 of one of the said channel members. It will also be observed that the longitudinal beveled edges B, B on adjacent tiles within a row engage each other below the head flanges 22, 22 of the crosspieces or T beams 20, 20 and that the beveled edges B, B of the ends of the tiles in adjacent rows engage each other below the bottom flanges 16, 16 of the channel members 12, 12.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the tiles T, T are placed in a row in the following manner. First, a crosspiece 20 is extended between the channel members 12, 12 to rest within the respective channels on the flanges 16, 16 at the end of the row. Then, a tile T is placed between the channel members 12, 12 with the groove 24 at one end of the tile receiving a flange 16 on one channel member 12 and the tile is thrust toward the said one end of the row so that a longitudinal groove 24 on the tile will receive a flange 22 on the crosspiece placed at the end of the row. Then, a second crosspiece 20 is placed between the channel members 12, 12 and thrust against the other longitudinal edge of the tile T so as to engage one of its flanges 22 within the exposed longitudinal groove 24. Then, the next tile T is positioned similarly to the first mentioned tile. Obviously,

. is substituted for a crosspiece 20 between the tile and the next adjacent conventional tile T.

The crosspiece 30 provided in accordance with the present invention comprises two members or elements 32 and 34 which are adapted to be interengaged. The member 32 is substantially equal in length to that of a tile T or the tile 10 and is generally Z-shaped in cross section having a top flange 36, a substantially vertical section or wall 38 and a bottom flange 40. The member 32 extends between the channel members 12, 12 with the bottom flange 40 resting upon the respective flanges 16, 16 of the said channel members. A longitudinally extending slot 42 is defined in the top flange 36 intermediate the ends of the member 32 for a purpose which will be described.

The element or member 34 comprises an elongated metal extrusion of generally L-shaped cross section having a bottom flange 44 and a substantially vertical section or wall 46. The member 34 is not as long as the member 32 but extends between the channel members 12, 12, the ends of the member 34 being spaced inwardly of the flanges 16, 16 of the said channel members. A latch arm 48 is pivotally secured to the vertical section or wall 46 of the member 34 intermediate its ends and projects upwardly and downwardly from the said vertical section. A notch 50 is cut into the upper extending portion of the latch arm 48 for a purpose which will be described.

When the members 32 and 34 are engaged as best shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9, the vertical section 38 on the member 32 and the vertical section 46 on the member 34 are engaged face-toface with the top flange 36 on the member 32 resting upon the top edge of the vertical section 46 of the member 34. Thus, the flanges 38 and 44 on the respective members extend oppositely in substantially the same horizontal plane. The upper portion of the latch arm 48 projects through the slot 42 provided in the member 32 so that the latch arm can be pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 9 whereby the notch 50 will engage over the flange 36 on the member 32 to lock the members 32' and 34 in the assembled or engaged relationship. When the members 32 and 34 are engaged as described, the assemblage makes a crosspiece 30 which is generally of inverted T-shape in cross section. Thus, the two-element crosspiece 30 constitutes a substitute for the conventional crosspiece 20 and is employed between adjacent longitudinal edges of a conventional tile T and a tile 10.

The tile 10 is similar in all respects to a conventional tile T except that there is no groove provided on either end of the tile 10. Each end of the tile 10 is cut back as indicated at 52 similarly to the cutback 26 on one end of the conventional tile T. Accordingly, a tile 10 is supported along its longitudinal edges wherein the longitudinally extending grooves 24, 24 engage a flange 22 on a conventional crosspiece 20 and the flange 44 on a two-element crosspiece 30. The tile 10 is placed in position between the channel members 12, 12 with the one element 34 engaged to one longitudinal edge of said tile. That is, the flange 44 on the element 34 is thrust into one longitudinal groove 24 on the tile 10 and then it becomes necessary or desirable to remove the tiles from the row, the latch arm 48 is pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 8 and then the tile 10 can be removed by dropping the tile, thus dropping the latch arm from the slot 42, as shown in Fig. 7.

Obviously, it will be of advantage to locate one tile 10 supported by my improved structure within each row of tiles in a ceiling where removal of one or more of the tiles may be anticipated or may at some time become necessary. It is also obvious that if the easily removable tile 10 is placed at one end of a row, the row can be completed with ease and without possible damage to the tile 10 or to any other tiles. It may not be necessary to provide a removable tile in each row in a ceiling construction, particularly where removal of any of the tiles is unanticipated. However, there are many ceiling constructions where it is desirable to have but one or possibly more tiles easily removable. This will occur where a ceiling construction covers electrical wiring or plumbing connections or the like which may require periodic attention. The support structure and tile provided in accordance with the present invention permit the use of one or any number of readily removable tiles at strategically located positions in such a ceiling construction.

The invention claimed is:

1. Tile support means for a ceiling construction and comprising in combination, a pair of supports extending across the ceiling to define a row for tiles placed therebetween, a plurality of crosspieces extending between and supported by the supports, each of the said crosspieces being generally of inverted T-shape in cross section to provide oppositely facing flanges extending between the supports and which are adapted to be received in and to support edge portions of adjacent tiles placed in the row, at least one of the said crosspieces comprising two members one of which has one flange and is in supporting engagement at its ends with the supports and the other of which has an oppositely facing flange and is spaced at its ends from the supports, and means for releasably locking the said two members together between the supports and for adapting the said other of the members to be removed with a tile engaged and supported by its flange.

2. Tile support means for a ceiling construction and comprising in combination, a pair of channel members extending across the ceiling to define at least one row for tiles, a plurality of crosspieces extending between and supported by said channel members, each of the said crosspieces being generally of inverted T-shape in cross section to provide oppositely facing flanges extending between the said channel members and which are adapted to be received in and to support edge portions of adjacent tiles placed in a row between the channel members, at least one of the said crosspieces comprising two members one of which has one flange and is in supporting engagement at its ends with the channel members and the other of which has an oppositely facing flange and is spaced at its ends from the said channel members, and means for releasably locking the said two members together between the channel members and for adapting the said other of the members to be removed with a tile engaged and supported by its flange.

3. Tile support means for a ceiling construction and comprising in combination, a pair of elongated supports extending across thte ceiling to define a row for tiles placed therebetween, the said supports having flanges facing toward each other, a plurality of crosspieces extending between the supports and resting on the flanges thereof, each of the said crosspieces being generally of inverted T-shape in cross section to provide oppositely facing flanges extending between the supports and which are adapted to be received in and to support edge portions of adjacent tiles placed in the row, at least one of the said crosspieces comprising two members one of which has one flange and is supported at its ends on the flanges of the supports and the other of which has an oppositely facing flange and is spaced at its ends from the flanges on the supports, and means for releasably locking the said two members together between the supports and for adapting the said other of the members to be removed with a tile engaged and supported by its flange.

4. In a ceiling construction, the combination comprising a pair of elongated supports extending across the ceiling to define a row for tiles placed therebetween, the said supports having flanges facing toward each other, a plurality of crosspieces extending between the supports and resting on the flanges thereof, each of the said crosspieces being generally of inverted T-shape in cross section to provide oppositely facing flanges extending between the supports, a plurality of tiles disposed in a row between the supports, each of the said tiles having opposite edge portions extending below the respective flanges on the supports and also having grooves adapted to receive oppositely facing flanges on adjacent crosspieces, at least one of the said crosspieces comprising two members one of which has one flange and is supported at its ends on the flanges of the supports and the other of which has an oppositely facing flange and is spaced at its ends from the flanges on the supports, and means for releasably locking the said two members together between the supports and for adapting the said other of the members to be removed with a tile engaged and supported by its flange.

5. Tile support means for a ceiling construction and comprising in combination, a pair of supports extending across the ceiling to define a row for tiles placed therebetween, a plurality of crosspieces extending between and supported by the supports, each of the said crosspieces being generally of inverted T-shape in cross section to provide oppositely facing flanges extending between the supports and which are adapted to be received in and to support edge portions of adjacent tiles placed in the row, at least one of the said crosspieces comprising two members one of which is generally Z-shaped in cross section with its bottom flange providing one of the oppositely facing flanges and supported at its ends by the supports and the other of which members is generally L-shaped in cross section with its bottom flange providing the other of the oppositely facing flanges and with its top edge disposed below the top flange of the Z-shaped member, the said other member having its ends spaced from the supports, and pivoted latch means on said other member engageable with the said top flange to releasably lock the said two members together between the supports, the said latch means when disengaged permitting removal of the said other member with a tile engaged and supported by its flange.

6. Tile support means for a ceiling construction and comprising in combination, a pair of elongated supports extending across the ceiling to define a row for tiles placed therebetween, the said supports having flanges facing toward each other, a plurality of crosspieces extending between the supports and resting on the flanges thereof, each of the said crosspieces being generally of inverted T-shape in cross section to provide oppositely facing flanges extending between the supports and which are adapted to be received in and to support edge portions of adjacent tiles placed in the row, at least one of the said crosspieces comprising two members one of which is generally Z-shaped in cross section and the other of which is generally L-shaped in cross section, the bottom flange on the Z-shaped member providing one of the oppositely facing flanges and the flange on the L-shaped member providing the other oppositely facing flange, the Z-shaped member being supported at its ends on the flanges of the supports and the Z-shaped member having an aperture in its top flange between its ends, the L- shaped member being spaced at its ends from the flanges on the supports, and latch means pivotally secured on the L-shaped member and arranged to project through said aperture and to engage said top flange and thereby lock the two members together between the supports, the said latch means when disengaged permitting removal of the said L-shaped member with a tile engaged and supported by its flange.

7. In a ceiling construction, the combination comprising a pair of elongated supports extending across the ceiling to define a row for tiles placed therebetween, the said supports having flanges facing toward each other, a plurality of crosspieces extending between the supports and resting on the flanges thereof, each of the said crosspieces being generally of inverted T-shape in cross section to provide oppositely facing flanges extending between the supports, a plurality of tiles disposed in a row between the supports, each of the said tiles having opposite edge portions extending below the respective flanges on the supports and also having grooves adapted to receive oppositely facing flanges on adjacent crosspieces, at least one of the said crosspieces comprising two members one of which is generally Z-shaped in cross section and the other of which is generally L-shaped in cross section, the bottom flange on the Z-shaped member providing one of the 0p positely facing flanges and the flange on the L-shaped member providing the other oppositely facing flange, the Z-shaped member being supported at its ends on the flanges of the supports and the Z-shaped member having an aperture in its top flange between its ends, the -L-s'haped member being spaced at its ends from the flanges on the supports, and latch means pivotally secured on the L-shaped member and arranged to project through said aperture and to engage said top flange and thereby lock the two members together between the supports, the said latch means when disengaged permitting removal of the said L-shaped member with a tile engaged and supported by its flange.

8. Means for detachably supporting a tile in a ceiling construction which includes a plurality of similar tiles arranged in a row and substantially in edge abutting relationship with each other and wherein the substantially abutting edges of adjacent tiles are provided with grooves to receive supporting means which in cross section is of generally inverted T-shape, the said support means for the detachable tile comprising a first elongated member having a single bottom flange received in the groove of the substantially abutting edge of the adjacent tile, a second elongated member having a single bottom flange received in the groove of the substantially abutting edge of the detachable tile and movable therewith into side-by-side re lationship with the first member, and latch means for interconnecting said first and second members including a latch arm movably secured to one member and means on said other member engageable by said arm, the arm being operable from below the ceiling selectively to connect and to disconnect said first and second members.

9. Means for detachably supporting a tile in a ceiling construction which includes a plurality of similar tiles arranged in a row and substantially in edge abutting relationship with each other and wherein the substantially abutting edges of adjacent tiles are provided with grooves to receive supporting means which in cross section is of generally inverted T-shape, the said support means for the detachable tile comprising a first elongated member which is generally Z-shaped in cross section having its bottom flange received in the groove of the substantially abutting edge of the adjacent tile, a second elongated member which is generally L-shaped in cross section having its bottom flange received in the groove of the substantially abutting edge of the detachable tile and movable therewith into side-by-side relationship with the first member, and latch means for interconnecting said first and second members including a latch arm pivotally secured to the second member and operable from below the ceiling, the first member being provided with an aperture in its upper flange to receive a portion of said latch arm whereby to lock the two members together, the second member being suspended from the top flange of the first member on said latch arm when locked.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,070,150 Venzie Feb. 9, 1937 2,212,982 Drain et al Aug. 27, 1940 2,340,911 Urbain Feb. 8, 1944 2,689,026 Zingone Sept. 14, 1954 2,728,595 Wong Dec. 27, 1955 

